Kira's family joins search for Mandy Matula

VICTORIA, Minn. - Just two days after they learned the body of their loved one had been pulled from the Mississippi River, the family of Kira Steger joined the search for Mandy Matula.

Hundreds of people gathered in Victoria and Waconia on Saturday to search for Matula, 24, who has been missing since May 1. Kira Steger's family joined the search, saying they wanted to help a family whose pain they understood all too well.

"We just want to be there for them and hopefully give them some pointers and some guidance on how we went through this, and hopefully they can stay strong and get through this themselves," said Jay Steger, Kira's father.

On Thursday, St. Paul police confirmed Kira's body was found in the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul. Her husband has been charged with her murder.

But Kira's father wasn't the only Steger family member joining the search party. Family from Texas flew in to the state just yesterday. They had planned to help search for Kira.

"We're here now to help in the search for Mandy and pay it forward to this community that has embraced us warmly for the last two months," said Tammy Guyton, Kira's aunt.

Meantime, another Twin Cities-area family also found answers this week. On Friday, authorities recovered the body of 27-year-old Danielle Jelinek from a Chisago Lake Township swamp.

For more information about the search for Mandy Matula, you can go to Finding Mandy Matula on Facebook.

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